Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

KCR mounts ‘T’ pressure on UPA

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has begun efforts to make common cause with other regional parties in a bid to mount pressure on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for conceding their demands ahead of the vote of confidence in Parliament.

TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday had a telephonic conversation with former Prime Minister and president of Janata Dal (Secular) H.D. Deve Gowda and president of Rashtriya Lok Dal Ajit Singh. He also tried unsuccessfully to contact Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren as he was away in Bokaro.

The TRS is seeking a commitment from the UPA on separate Telangana as a pre-condition for voting in favour of the government by the party’s two members in Lok Sabha.

The expelled TRS member A. Narendra has also made a similar announcement in return for his vote.

Mr. Rao was said to have told Mr. Gowda and Mr. Singh over phone that this was the right time to bully the UPA for ditching smaller parties led by them. The UPA had taken all these parties into confidence by promising to concede their respective demands while forming the government four years ago. The parties should vote in favour or against the government depending on its response.

Contrary to expectations that he might visit New Delhi on Friday, the TRS chief left for Karimnagar after talking to the leaders on Thursday.

He will attend a programme to mark the presentation of a cheque for Rs. 50 lakh on behalf of the party to a trust working for welfare of handloom weavers in Sircilla.

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